Deb Crosby (yellow jacket) leads the 2023 Coldest Night of the Year walk from Maffeo Sutton Park on Saturday, Feb. 25. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

VITAL PROGRAMMING

VIDEO: Coldest Night of the Year smashes fundraising records in Nanaimo & Parksville

Feb 26, 2023 | 5:51 AM

NANAIMO — Fundraising records were set across the mid-Island in support of vital programming to help those living rough.

The annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser in Nanaimo, in support of the Island Crisis Care Society, held their walk on a cold and snowy Saturday, Feb. 25 beginning and ending at Maffeo Sutton Park and raised over $110,000.

Deb Crosby, captain of the Hammond Bay Baptist Church team which raised roughly $10,500, led the walk and told NanaimoNewsNOW the experience hits home every year.

“I look at the people who are struggling in our city and I realize that we’re all just circumstances away from being in that kind of situation. I think it’s really important to do what we can to try and give them a leg up and help change the picture.”

The 2023 tally beats a record 2022 where just under $100,000 was raised.

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A similar event in Parksville was held simultaneously Saturday night, also benefitting the Island Crisis Care Society. It earned over $83,000, blowing a $50,000 goal away.

Money goes to support various programs ICCS runs in the region to work with people experiencing and looking to escape homelessness.

“I love that they encourage people to come up with their own goals, then they help facilitate them to lead to success,” Crosby added as she walked along the Nanaimo waterfront. “They have such a high rate of success and it’s heartwarming.”

Among the roughly 150 people who braved conditions Saturday night was Richard Powell, captain of the Rambling Amblers and Paddlers and a long-time participant of Coldest Night of the Year.

Powell said the walk is an eye-opening experience.

‘Every year, right now, you feel that cold, you feel what it’s like to be out in the cold. Then as we walk through downtown and you see people who are living out here, sleeping overnight in this, you can just hardly believe anyone can do that.”

Nationwide, over $12.1 million was raised through events in 182 different locations.

A brief opening ceremony was held at the Lions Pavillion at Maffeo Sutton Park. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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